Advantage of legislation outweighs bad

April 30, 2008|By Francis Mahoney

Surveys indicate that nine out of 10 mothers considering an abortion change their mind after reviewing an ultrasound image of their child in the womb. More than 90,000 babies are aborted annually in Florida, and South Florida has the highest abortion rate in the state. In a 10-year period, that number approaches 1 million pre-born Floridians. An ultrasound exam could have saved many of these most vulnerable human beings.

Legislation that would generally mandate the ultrasound exam prior to a first trimester abortion is working its way through the state Legislature. Florida law already mandates the exam before a second or third trimester abortion. The bill is advancing despite repeated misrepresentations about it in a recent South Florida Sun-Sentinel front-page article (April 3) an editorial (April 9) an Op-Ed piece (April 14) and a Letter to the Editor (April 5). This compares to one positive "letter" regarding the informational advantage of an ultrasound.

Among this newspaper's inaccuracies is the claim that "any" mother seeking an abortion would be subject to this bill. In fact, women would be exempted if they are victims of rape, incest, domestic violence, or trafficking, or if they have been diagnosed by a physician as at risk for substantial impairment of a major bodily function if termination of a pregnancy is delayed.

Women are not "obliged to pay hundreds of dollars" for an ultrasound exam. This procedure costs $160, and 80 percent of abortionists already include this fee in the price of an abortion.

One Fort Lauderdale abortuary charges $160. I know this because I saw the receipt listing the price from a mother who didn't have an abortion.

Mothers would not be "required to view the images of their pre-born children." Any mother could decline to see the pictures.

In two of these pieces, the term "fetus" is used in such a way as to suggest that an unborn baby is less than a living human being. (Fetus is a Latin word meaning pre-born child of offspring.) To mask the humanity of a human being in the womb by using a foreign word is misleading.

The beginning of human life at conception is not an opinion but a scientifically provable fact. Consequently, our human rights commence at this time because they are inherent in our humanity.

In the name of justice, charity, and self-evident truth, it is essential we accept these facts and respect all stages of human existence.

The ultrasound bill would do much to help parents realize the humanity of their unborn children. By reducing abortions, many mothers and fathers would be spared the post-abortion guilt that is common in 80 percent of cases. This guilt sometimes leads to drug and alcohol abuse, depression and a higher suicide rate than parents who did not abort.

Women should also know about links between abortions and breast cancer. A Howard University report and more than two dozen other studies show that women who have abortions are at risk.

The advantages of this legislation far outweighs any inconveniences. Furthermore, this proposed law is in fundamental agreement with our nation's founding principles that the primary purpose of government is to ensure respect for the human right to life.